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Information About the Area from our Experts

Public Transportation

Many WNEC students don’t have to worry about commuting, because around three quarters of the student body lives on campus. But for those that do, they have to figure out how to navigate the city and which routes are quickest in regards to traffic and distance. And if students don’t have a car, the matter is even more difficult. Those students should get familiar with the PVTA, which is the local transit agency. They run buses around Springfield, and fortunately these buses stop at WNEC. With no rail system or school shuttles, students who need to use public transit will have to map out the bus lines and figure out where they can live and still be near a stop. It’s an inconvenience, sure, but it’s certainly feasible for students to commute this way to WNEC.

Crime & Safety

A lot of students and older residents alike email me with concerns over the city’s safety. I find that most of their fear stems from “crime rankings” that are put out by online publications and magazines. I really wouldn’t encourage anyone to judge a city by those lists, because they don’t mention the individual neighborhoods of these “dangerous” cities that are safe and nice to live in. In Springfield, the safest neighborhoods are near WNEC. In fact, WNEC’s campus is arguably the safest part of Springfield. I would even say that there’s no doubt East Springfield is the best part of the city to live in, especially for students.